Cybersecurity has come a long way. But even in 2025, many individuals and organizations still believe the same myths about it. Believing these myths can be mostly harmless, but mainly they provide a false sense of comfort and safety. After all, the illusion of safety can also expose individuals and businesses alike to actual threats.
This article will expose the top 20 myths about cybersecurity you need to stop believing, with some examples to illustrate why they are myths. Whether you are an individual, a small business owner, or a member of a large organization, it’s time for some cybersecurity myth-busting.
1. Cybercriminals Only Target Large Companies
No myth is more prevalent than the idea that hackers only attack large corporations. Actually, small to medium organizations are an attractive target for hackers. The main reason is they usually don’t have great security measures in place.
2. Strong Passwords Are Enough
Strong passwords are very useful, but they are not everything. Cyber criminals can use methods such as phishing, credential stuffing, and malware deployment along with zero-day exploitation to bypass strong passwords. The reality is that multi-factor authentication (MFA) is now a need, because even if a password is stolen, MFA presents another obstacle.
3. I Got Antivirus; It Will Protect Me from Everything
Antivirus software is a tool, not a magic wall. It can catch malware that is already known, but it will not stop advance phishing attacks, insider threats, or zero-day attacks. A layered approach to security, such as firewalls, endpoint protection, and regular updates, is much better.
4. Cybersecurity is Just an IT Problem
There are many myths about cybersecurity, but a lot of them stem from the idea that only the IT department has to worry about it. The reality is that everyone is responsible for cybersecurity.
Example: An HR employee opened a link to a phishing email disguised as a job application; with one click, the compromise led to a ransomware attack..
5. Hackers are Always People Unknown
Nope. Believe it or not, insider threats are among the top cybersecurity myths you should stop believing. Sometimes employees—either purposely or erroneously—cause the breach. This can be an employee that is disgruntled stealing information, or an employee unintentionally sending sensitive files to someone else.
6. Public Wi-Fi is Safe If it is Password Protected
While its certainly better to have password protection, you are still vulnerable to an attack on public Wi-Fi. Hackers can create and name an illegitimate network to mimic an existing network. What is the safest practice? Use a VPN. And whenever you are on public Wi-Fi, be sure and only use a VPN, so your data is always encrypted.
7. No Viruses Impact Macs and iPhones
This is perhaps the most prevalent myth about cybersecurity. Though macOS and iOS are extremely secure platforms, they can never be fool-proof. Cybercriminals have created malware targeted directly at Apple devices, or specific phishing campaigns to gain access.
8. Cybersecurity is Expensive
The cost of deploying a security strategy is never the cost of a breach. In 2024, the average cost of a global data breach was in the millions! The time, energy, and effort spent on basic strategies are nothing in comparison and easily justified.
9. Once Secure, Always Secure
Security is not a set-it-and-forget-it problem. The threats continue to evolve day by day, and for an industry like this, what worked to secure you yesterday may not work tomorrow. This is precisely why organizations need to have constant monitoring and regular security assessments in place.
10. Cybercriminals Do Not Care about Your Personal Information
False. Personal information such as your name, date of birth and address can easily be used for identity theft, social engineering and targeted scams.
Example: A thief and use your date of birth to reset your bank password and steal your funds.
11. Small Businesses are not Worth Hacking
This is a cybersecurity myth that needs to be busted, perhaps the most common myth being busted. Many Small Businesses hold valuable customer data and have less controls in place and are usually an easier target.
12. If a Website has HTTPS, Then It is Safe
While HTTPS encrypts data in transit, it doesn’t mean that the site is legitimate. Many phishing sites use HTTPS to be trusted.
13. Cybersecurity Is Technology
Cybersecurity includes policies, procedures, training, and people. The best technology in the world cannot protect you if your employee is being scammed with a fake invoice.
14. I Can Identify All Phishing Emails
Phishing scams are becoming ever more convincing. In some cases, the email looks identical to legitimate emails. If someone clicks one single link, their environment is then compromised.
15. I Have Cyber Insurance; I am Protected
Cyber insurance can help your business recover from an attack, it doesn’t stop it from happening in the first place! Additionally, you will find that some insurance policies do not pay out if you do not follow the security requirements.
16. Software Updates Can Wait Until Midnight
Delaying upgrades is a dangerous thing to do. There are are number of attacks that utilize existing known vulnerabilities, that the vendor has already patched.
17. Hackers Always Use Sophisticated Methods
Sometimes, a voice on the other end of the line is all it takes. Social engineering attacks utilize human psychology, not technology. Here is an example. An attacker called an employee while pretending to be from the IT department and managed to convince them to give their password over the phone.
18. Cybersecurity Training Is a One-Time Thing
People forget, and threats change. Ongoing training keeps employees alert to the latest scams and risks.
19. I am Too Smart to Be Hacked
Overconfidence is risky. Even security experts have been tricked by well-crafted phishing emails.
20. Free Security Tools Are Enough
Free tools can help, but they often lack advanced features like real-time monitoring, threat intelligence, and incident response.
Breaking the Cycle of Cybersecurity Myths
The cybersecurity myths list above shows how easy it is to fall for false assumptions. Whether it’s believing that hackers only target big companies or thinking antivirus is enough, these myths put data, money, and reputations at risk.
Cyble provides real-time threat intelligence, dark web monitoring, and continuous risk assessments to help organizations stay ahead of emerging threats. Their solutions give visibility into potential attacks before they happen, helping businesses take proactive measures. By combining technology, data, and expertise, Cyble helps debunk the top myths of cybersecurity with facts and actionable intelligence — without the jargon.
Conclusion
In 2025, the top 20 cybersecurity myths you should stop believing are not just harmless misunderstandings, they are weaknesses. By knowing the cybersecurity myths and truths, you can make better decisions and protect what matters most.
Cybersecurity is not a one-time investment. It’s an ongoing process that requires awareness, training, and the right tools. So, the next time you hear a claim that sounds too simple, remember, it might just be another cybersecurity myth busted.
